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Memorial Health System Acquires the Spiration® Valve System for the Treatment of Severe Emphysema

A new minimally invasive therapy is shown to improve lung function and quality of life


GULFPORT, Miss. (April 11, 2022) – Memorial Health System is now using the FDA-approved Spiration Valve System (SVS) for the treatment of severe emphysema. This Olympus innovation provides physicians with an important new therapy for the treatment of adult patients who are suffering from the symptoms of severe emphysema, such as shortness of breath.

Emphysema, a progressive form of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), affects 3.5 million people in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.[1]  The disease causes a loss of elasticity in lung tissue and enlargement of the alveoli. As a result, emphysematous lobes become hyperinflated, causing shortness of breath.

The Spiration Valve is an umbrella-shaped device that is placed in the targeted airways of the lung during a short bronchoscopic procedure. Once in place, the SVS redirects air from diseased parts of the lung to healthier parts, allowing the healthier lung tissue to expand and function more effectively.[2] With a potential reduction in lung volume, a patient may be able to breathe more easily and experience improvement in their quality of life.[3]

A decade of clinical studies has shown that patient selection is one of the most important predictive factors of a good response to bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BVLR) with endobronchial valves.[4],[5],[6] Patients are selected for this procedure through a screening process that involves a thorough patient evaluation, including comorbidities, and high-resolution CT analysis.4

“We are pleased to add the Spiration Valve System to our treatment portfolio for patients with severe emphysema,” says Memorial Health System Pulmonologist Dr. Bobby Tullos. “The SVS from Olympus gives us an additional alternative for the treatment of this specific patient population.”

By acquiring novel therapies such as the Spiration Valve System from Olympus, Memorial Health System is able to offer an effective treatment option for patients with severe emphysema. For more information about this treatment, please call Memorial Pulmonology (228-575-1775)or visitwearememorial.com.

About Memorial Health System

Memorial Health System has been serving the Mississippi Gulf Coast and beyond for 75 years. Located in Gulfport, Mississippi, Memorial is a not-for-profit medical complex jointly owned by the City of Gulfport and Harrison County. Memorial includes two hospitals licensed for 328 beds, a state-designated Level II Trauma Center, three nursing centers, four outpatient surgery centers, satellite outpatient diagnostic and rehabilitation centers, and more than 100 Memorial Physician Clinics. Memorial offers several of the region’s most comprehensive clinical programs and medical specialties unique to the area, including a Level III Neonatal ICU and Mississippi’s first nationally-certified Primary Stroke Center. Visit wearememorial.com to learn more.

About Olympus Medical Systems Group

Olympus is a global technology leader, crafting innovative optical and digital solutions in medical technologies; life sciences; industrial solutions; and cameras and audio products. Throughout our 100-year history, Olympus has focused on being true to society and making people’s lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling.

Our Medical Business works with health care professionals to combine our innovative capabilities in medical technology, therapeutic intervention, and precision manufacturing with their skills to deliver diagnostic, therapeutic and minimally invasive procedures to improve clinical outcomes, reduce overall costs and enhance quality of life for patients. For more information, visit Olympus at www.medical.olympusamerica.com.

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[1] Centers for Disease Control. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Basics About COPD. https://www.cdc.gov/dotw/copd/index.html. Accessed December 3, 2018.

[2] Spiration Valve System. 2018. Summary of Safety and Effectiveness.

3 Criner GJ, Delage A, Voelker K. Late Breaking Abstract – Endobronchial valves for severe emphysema – 12-month results of the EMPROVE trial. European Respiratory Journal 2018;52: Suppl. 62. doi:10.1183/13993003.congress-2018.OA4928.

4 Sciurba FC, Ernst A, Herth FJF, et al. A randomized study of endobronchial valves for advanced emphysema. New England Journal ofMedicine 2010;363(13):1233-1244. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa0900928.

4 Sciurba FC, Ernst A, Herth FJF, et al. A randomized study of endobronchial valves for advanced emphysema. New England Journal ofMedicine 2010;363(13):1233-1244. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa0900928.

5 Schuhmann M, Raffy P, Yi Y, et al. CT predictors of response to endobronchial valve lung reduction treatment: Comparison with Chartis. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 2015;191(7):767-774; doi:10.1164/rccm.201407-1205OC.

6 Herth FJF, Slebos D-J, Criner GJ, Shah PL. Endoscopic Lung Volume Reduction: An Expert Panel Recommendation – Update 2017. Respiration 2017;94(4):380-388. doi:10.1159/000479379.

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